Sandro Bazadze and Enver Yildirim Shines in Madrid at the “Villa de Madrid” Men’s Sabre World Cup

Madrid, Spain — The Polideportivo Municipal Gallur in Madrid became the heart of the fencing world this weekend as it hosted the prestigious “Villa de Madrid” Men’s Sabre World Cup, bringing together 257 elite individual fencersand 28 national teams. Yet, by the end of the competition, all eyes were firmly on two standout names: Sandro Bazadze of Georgia and Enver Yildirim of Türkiye.

Bazadze Claims Gold with Authority

Georgia’s Sandro Bazadze proved once again why he is one of the premier sabreurs on the international stage, capturing the individual gold medal with a commanding performance throughout the event. In the final bout, he showcased composure and clinical execution to defeat Türkiye’s rising star Enver Yildirim by a decisive 15-8.

Bazadze was dominant from the early rounds, but truly impressed in the semi-final, where he faced Korea’s Gyeongdong Do. The Georgian held his nerve in a closely contested match, eventually winning 15-13. With a blend of tactical intelligence and athletic sharpness, Bazadze reaffirmed his reputation as one of the sport’s finest competitors.

Yildirim’s Breakthrough Performance

Despite finishing with silver, Enver Yildirim was undoubtedly the breakout star of the tournament. The Turkish fencer stunned the field with a series of sensational upsets, most notably in the round of 16, where he edged past reigning Olympic and World Champion Sanguk Oh of Korea, 15-14. That victory sent shockwaves through the fencing community and marked Yildirim as a serious contender.

Yildirim continued his impressive run by defeating the Italian fencer Michele Gallo  in the quarter-finals and then overcame Korea’s Sangwon Park in the semi-finals, again by 15-13. With fast-paced attacks, emotional intensity and fearless decision-making, Yildirim reached his first-ever World Cup final, establishing himself as a formidable presence on the world stage.

High Drama in a World-Class Field

The tournament featured numerous surprises. Among the most notable was the early elimination of Hungary’s Aron Szilagyi, the three-time Olympic champion, who was beaten 15-13 in the round of 32 by Germany’s Matyas Szabo. Fellow Hungarian and World Champion Andras Szatmari also exited early, falling 15-9 to Sebastien Patrice in the last 16.

The final eight fencers in the individual event were Bazadze (GEO), Yildirim (TUR), Gyeongdong Do (KOR), Sangwon Park (KOR), Sebastien Patrice (FRA), Fares Ferjani (TUN), Jean-Philippe Patrice (FRA), and Michele Gallo (ITA).

France Dominates the Team Competition

In the team sabre event, France clinched gold with a convincing 45-34 victory over Hungary in the final. The French squad displayed tactical cohesion and technical superiority, having previously overcome Romania in the semi-finals, 45-41. Hungary had reached the final after narrowly defeating the United States in a thrilling 45-44 encounter. The bronze medal went to Romania, who beat the USA 45-40 in the third-place match.

A Tournament to Remember

The “Villa de Madrid” World Cup proved to be a thrilling chapter in the 2024–25 fencing season, not just for its competitive excellence, but for the compelling stories it brought to light. Sandro Bazadze delivered a masterclass in consistency and control, while Enver Yildirim captured the imagination of fans with his fearless rise to the final. Madrid played host to world-class fencing – and two unforgettable performances that will be talked about for months to come.